How Long Is Book Of Mormon

2 hours and 30 minutes The Book of Mormon has a run time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15 minute interval.

How long is the show Book of Mormon?

How long is The Book of Mormon musical? The Book of Mormon has a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission.

Is Book of Mormon ok for 13 year old?

GET THE FULL EXPERIENCE: – To see this content you’ll need to allow us to set some additional cookies! Update your cookie preferences here and enable ‘social and advertising cookies’ Background to the show In 2003, after seeing Avenue Q, satirical masterminds and the creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, were inspired to write a musical.

• Working with Avenue Q co-creator Robert Lopez, the animated sitcom-writing duo created a laugh-out-loud comedy about the Mormon religion that takes a pop at organised religion, consumerism, the current economy and the musical theatre genre itself.
• For context, the trio took a trip to Salt Lake City to meet with current and former Mormon Missionaries.

After nearly seven years of development, their musical opened to sold-out audiences at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Broadway on 24 March 2011. Since, it’s toured the US and Canada, had its UK premiere in the West End on 25 February 2013, and opened in Melbourne on 18 January 2017 Its big heart and bigger laughs meant it not only won the Best New Musical Olivier Award in 2014, but the show received rave reviews from every publication in London.

It’s still one of the most popular musicals in the West End. What age is The Book Of Mormon appropriate for? The Book Of Mormon contains explicit language and adult topics. Parental guidance is strongly advised. All persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by and sat next to the accompanying adult.

How long is The Book Of Mormon? The show is 2 hours and 35 minutes long, which includes a 15-minute interval. What are the Book Of Mormon songs? The show features numbers including Spooky Mormon Hell Dream, I Am Africa, Baptize Me, All American Prophet and Tomorrow Is A Latter Day, amongst others.

How long is The Book of Mormon pages?

Completing the work in less than 90 days, he published it in March 1830 as a 588-page volume called the Book of Mormon.

How long does Book of Mormon on Broadway last?

2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.

Is the Book of Mormon Broadway funny?

‘The Book of Mormon,’ a very funny, very irreverent satire about the Mormon religion, makes a return visit to Jacksonville For Gabe Gibbs, the chance to play Elder Price, an earnest, ambitious young Mormon missionary in the Tony Award-winning musical “The Book of Mormon” “is a great gig.” It’s also incredible hard work. Vocally Elder Price’s role is “irrationally hard,” he said. “There’s a ton of singing. And the human body wasn’t designed to do eight shows a week. But the music is so freaking good it doesn’t get old.” Gibbs will be doing that singing beginning Tuesday in the Moran Theater in The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts as the second national tour of “The Book of Mormon” visits Jacksonville. “The Book of Mormon” has book, lyrics and music written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of “South Park,” and Robert Lopez, who was the co-composer/lyricist of the Tony Award-winning “Avenue Q.” “The Book of Mormon” opened on Broadway in 2011 and won nine Tony Awards (it was nominated for 14). The New York Times called it “the best musical of the century.” Entertainment Weekly called it “the funniest musical of all time.” It is also undoubtedly the most irreverent and obscene musical of all time, an opinion Gibbs doesn’t dispute. But he points out that after almost six years on Broadway, two national tours and the best-selling cast album of the last four decades, “people do know what they are getting themselves into.” And of course the show is a wickedly satirical look at the Mormon religion – and religion in general. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken a measured response to the show. Two years ago, when show first played at the Moran Theater, polite young Mormons stood outside the theater handing out copies of the actual “Book of Mormon.” That doesn’t happen much anymore, Gibbs said. But he also noted that the church buys ads in the programs handed out before each perfomances that carries the message “you’ve seen the show, now read the book.” For Gibbs, “The Book of Mormon” has dominated his professional career. Hired right out of Emerson College, he first spent a year with the first touring company, though he was not with the show when it visited Jacksonville. Then he spent 11 months with the Broadway company, understudying the role of Elder Price, “sort of like the second string quarterback.” And he got quite a few chances to take the stage during those 11 months. For the last three months he’s been Elder Price in the second national tour. He’s under contract through the end of this year. While he’s happy doing theater, he’s also interested in working in television and the movies. He played a small role in “Tumbledown,” a superb romantic comedy starring Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudeikis released in 2015. “I love both stage and camera work,” he said. “The theater is more tiring. You do eight shows a week until you retire or die. But the advantage is you immediately see the impact. The beauty of film and TV is it takes less time and you get more money.” Charlie Patton: (904) 359-4413 : ‘The Book of Mormon,’ a very funny, very irreverent satire about the Mormon religion, makes a return visit to Jacksonville

Is Book of Mormon a comedy?

Guide to The Book of Mormon on Broadway Say hello to one of Broadway’s most popular musical comedies, which has been running for more than 10 years. April 5, 2023, 19:52 Hello! Join the congregation at The Book of Mormon, the hit musical comedy that’s been converting audiences into devout musical theatre fans since 2011. You might not think that the creators of the adult animated TV series South Park and the musical Avenue Q would be the natural team behind a musical about religion, but it turns out that Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Robert Lopez were a match made in musical theatre heaven.

Though The Book of Mormon is about Mormonism, the musical is as irreverent as the creators’ other projects, satirizing religion among a host of other topics. The plot revolves around two inexperienced Mormon missionaries who are sent to convert the residents of a Ugandan village, which proves a difficult task.

In a rare move for a musical, The Book of Mormon premiered directly on Broadway — and the move paid off, as the show won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Consider this article your sacred text about all things The Book of Mormon on Broadway. Read on to learn about the show’s plot, history, songs, and how Star Wars characters factor into it all.

Can Mormons date at 16?

If I’m 18—a young single adult—but have never dated, do I start by group dating or single dating? – This is an interesting question, because it assumes that leaving the Young Men or Young Women program may signal the beginning of the single-dating era of your life.

1. For the Strength of Youth says, “Do not date until you are at least 16 years old.
2. When you begin dating, go in groups or on double dates” (24–25).
3. Somewhere between 16 and the age when you’re considering marriage, you will probably start going on single dates.
4. But regardless of your age, if you haven’t dated before, it may still be a good idea to go in groups to start out with, because it’s less awkward, there’s less pressure, and there’s more opportunity to learn social skills.

As always, it’s good to talk to your parents about it.

Can Mormons read The Book of Mormon?

Why Does It Matter? – The Book of Mormon is a proof that God’s love is universal and endless, and that it knows no boundaries. It shows how it extends beyond the lands and people of the Bible, when read together, the Bible and Book of Mormon support and strengthen each other in witnessing and affirming of Jesus Christ.

What grade reading level is The Book of Mormon?

Measuring the Readability and Complexity of the Book of Mormon – The specific characteristics mentioned above of the Book of Mormon are essentially impossible to directly compare to other books. Yet multiple analytic calculations have been used for decades to determine text readability and complexity.19 The outcomes of such evaluations can be compared easily.

Scale	Book of Mormon
Score	Suggested Reading Grade
Coleman Liau index	7.92	8
ATOS	9.6	8
Lexile	1150	8 (6–11)
Fry Graph	9–10	9
Dale-Chall Adjusted Grade Level	8.4	11–12
SMOG	12.55	12
Flesch Kincaid Grade Level	15.74	High School plus 2 years
Gunning Fog index	17.69	Post-Graduate year 1
Automated Readability Index (ARI)	17.50	Post-Graduate year 1

Averaging these scores places the Book of Mormon reading level around the eleventh grade (high school junior) but with a range from the sixth to post-graduate. An additional measure of complexity is the Flesch Reading Ease Scale, where the Book of Mormon scores 51–56, which correlates to “Fairly difficult to difficult to read.” 20 To put this in context, “Low scores indicate text that is complicated to understand,

Score	School Level	Notes
100–90	5th grade	Very easy to read. Easily understood by an average 11-year-old student.
90–80	6th grade	Easy to read. Conversational English for consumers.
	7th grade	Fairly easy to read.
70–60	8th & 9th grade	Plain English. Easily understood by 13- to 15-year-old students.
60–50	10th to 12th grade	Fairly difficult to read.
50–30	College	Difficult to read.
30–0	College graduate	Very difficult to read. Best understood by university graduates.

The most common of all complexity scales, with more than 300,000 books scored, is the “Lexile Framework for Reading.” 22 The Lexile Framework for Reading is a scientific approach to measuring reading ability and the text demand of reading materials. The Lexile Framework involves a scale for measuring both reading ability of an individual and the text complexity of materials encountered.

Grade	Mid-percentile	Range 25th to 75th percentile
1	210	120–295
2	360	170–545
3	590	415–760
4	795	635–950
5	925	770–1080
6	1010	855–1165
7	1080	925–1235
8	1140	985–1295
9	1195	1040–1350
10	1245	1085–1400
11–12	1285	1130–1440

The Book of Mormon Lexile score is 1150, 24 which correlates to an eighth -grade reading level, with a range that includes some sixth graders and most in the eleventh grade: 25 Since many books have been analyzed and assigned Lexile scores, these can be used when comparing authors and their books to Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.

Other popular books with an 1150 Lexile score include Brothers Karamazov (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, 364,153 words), Moby Dick, (Herman Melville, 206,052 words), and Great Expectations (Charles Dickens, 162,690 words).26 As discussed above, even the most optimistic historical estimates of Joseph Smith’s 1820s education assume seven years of upstate New York district schooling.

When presented with this data, Don Bradley, author of a forthcoming book on the lost 116 pages, responded, “People have readily assumed the Book of Mormon was within Joseph Smith’s writing ability, when it’s actually questionable how well it was within his reading ability.” 27

Do Mormons read the Bible?

Scripture – The Standard Works constitute the LDS Church scriptural canon Mormons believe in the Old and New Testaments, and the LDS Church uses the Authorized King James Version as its official scriptural text of the Bible, While Mormons believe in the general accuracy of the modern day text of the Bible, they also believe that it is incomplete and that errors have been introduced.

• In Mormon theology, many lost truths are restored in the Book of Mormon, which Mormons hold to be divine scripture and equal in authority to the Bible.
• The Mormon scriptural canon also includes a collection of revelations and writings contained in the Doctrine and Covenants which contains doctrine and prophecy and the Pearl of Great Price which addresses briefly Genesis to Exodus.

These books, as well as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, have varying degrees of acceptance as divine scripture among different denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.

Do Mormons believe in Jesus?

4. Mormons believe in an historical Jesus, but not the biblical Jesus. – Sincere Latter-day Saints fervently seek to live out 2 Nephi 25:26 from the Book of Mormon: “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ.” You could say they desire to be ” Christ-centered,” But, sadly, the Christ in the Book of Mormon isn’t the Christ of Christianity.

Though they believe in a historical figure named Jesus who called apostles, performed miracles, died on a cross, and rose again—and though they include his name in their church’s moniker—he’s not the Jesus of the Bible. In Mormon theology, Christ’s atonement doesn’t make all the difference; it just makes up the difference.

I know two different guys named Jared Jenkins. One is a young single man serving as a pastoral resident and finishing his seminary education. Another is a pastor in Utah, seminary professor, husband, and father of four. Imagine a scenario in which I tell you Jared Jenkins dropped by my house for a visit.

• Oh, that’s wonderful,” you say.
• I go on to explain that he gave me a book to read from one of his seminary classes.
• You reply, “I wish I could have seen him.
• I’ve been meaning to set him up on a date with a lovely young lady.” Shocked, I reply, “A date? He’s a happily married pastor with four kids!” Of course, we both then realize that even though we’ve been discussing Jared Jenkins, we’ve been referring to different people.

While both Mormons and historic Christians believe in “Jesus Christ,” they’re referring to different people. Timothy Tennent has helpfully pointed out the importance, when it comes to the divine, of “noting the predicates.” The predicates Mormons ascribe to Jesus in their sacred texts and prophetic teachings are vastly different from the predicates revealed in the Bible.

They’re so different that Mormonism and historic Christianity can’t be talking about the same subject. Mormons talk about a Jesus who was the spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother. They refer to Jesus as the brother of Lucifer who proposed a better plan of redemption and won the designation “Messiah.” They believe in a Jesus who filled in the gap of humanity’s need through his atoning sweat in the garden.

Mormonism and historic Christianity can’t be talking about the same Jesus. But that’s not the Jesus of the Bible, He reveals himself as the beginningless Son of God, from everlasting to everlasting (John 1:1; 17:24; Col.1:17). The Scriptures present Satan as a fallen angel, a created being —nothing like the Son of God, the Creator of all things (Col.1:16; Heb.1:2–4).

Which Book of Mormon is the longest?

Alma is the longest book in the Book of Mormon.

Is the Book of Mormon Broadway worth it?

Top ways to experience The Book of Mormon and nearby attractions – The area Neighborhood : Theater District

50th St • 2 min walk 50th St • 2 min walk

See what other travelers are saying

Fantastic show – So funny Came over from Scotland to visit areas of the US. During my time in New York, I wanted to see a show on Broadway but couldn’t decide. I opted for the Book of Mormon and I am so glad I did. it was a brilliant show, full of good songs, great acting and superbly funny. I would recommend this show to anyone who loves a laugh and doesn’t take religion or Mormon religion too seriously. Spicy CEO New York City, New York 116 contributions Hysterically Educational- may prompt you to be a better human. Please people, stop burying your heads in the sand! For years humor has been used to bring to light issues that are hard to face but are our REALITY. Racism exists. Aids exists, rape exists, FGM exists! It’s unfortunate that some people feel the need to turn a blind eye and ignore the issues by walking out claiming to be offended rather than face the discomfort they are feeling? Shame on you for not accepting reality, laughing and maybe DOING something about the issues rather than ignore it, claiming a moral high ground. This show is irreverently funny- is inappropriate towards EVERYONE (no group is left unscathed) and brings light to a great number of these issues that we ALL need to be aware of. Laugh at the absurdity of it (because that’s the intent- to shock and move you) and walk out knowing that you can play a bigger part in making some of these issues better. if you care. Great show, with many comical moments making serious points cleverly! Well produced and acted, great music, highly enjoyable. That’s my review, now to address those who spend their lives wanting to be offended. We have read many reviews of The Book of Mormon, mainly, we feel written by people who went along with the intention of being offended by it, or by people who failed to do their research before buying tickets. This musical is certainly not a recruiting sergeant for the Mormons, who, it has to be said remain a mainly white, male organisation, who only allowed persons of colour to join 40 years ago, and who do not allow women to participate fully. We sincerely hope that the Mormons will continue to make progress in these areas, and refrain from knocking on our door (not too much of an issue in Wales, UK) We believe in freedom of religion (though not religious ourselves), speech etc, did our research on Wikipedia and went along to enjoy this musical, and we did indeed enjoy it, whilst respecting the right of others to practice their religion. Rape of babies, FGM and HIV/AIDS are a fact of life in many parts of the world, and the musical theatre is a good way of raising awareness of these serious issues so that suitable action can be taken by those able to do so. There is no point in pretending that these problems do not exist. If you know that you are going to be offended, don’t go! Written February 29, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

1. Jan 2020 I don’t know or care about South Park.
2. My wife wanted to see this show and though I looked at many other shows, I got her tickets for Christmas.
3. I knew about the controversial topics and didn’t think I would enjoy the show or find it funny.
4. The seats are incredibly tight but the show is the shortest I’ve seen.

I’m 5’10” and my knees were basically touching the back of the seat in front of me and if you are lucky, you can use one armrest. I’ve yet to be in a NYC theater that isn’t similar to this feeling. I was told or read it would be a non-stop laugh riot but I barely laughed at anything, though others were laughing.

I felt like I kept waiting to think it was funny and I never did. It wasn’t boring, for me it was not a must see at all, but it was just another Broadway show. I would say my wife enjoyed it more than me, which is fine as it was a gift for her. I could recommend the view from the front mezzanine, we were in the back right and it felt super close with only 3 rows of people who could possibly affect our view.

Written January 4, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

1. Feb 2020 • Couples We had heard this play was irreverent and funny.
2. It was blasphemous and horrid.
3. To my everlasting shame, we left at intermission.
4. Should have walked out way earlier.
5. I love Broadway.
6. Musicals. plays.
7. This was THE WORST event I have ever attended and even watching it it til intermission was a very bad idea.

I felt like I needed a shower after. Maybe with disinfectant. A lot of the audience was laughing out loud. I cringed. It is probably the most obscene event I have spent money on. Do due diligence and avoid this piece of garbage at all costs. You will be better for it.

• Written April 14, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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• Feb 2023 I’ve been to a lot of Broadway shows and this was by far the cringiest.

We heard great things about the show and I was a fan of Avenue Q, so I thought this was a safe bet. After all, there was just too much potential in the title not to be a good show. But I was wrong. The beginning was a lighthearted and interesting way to get to know the characters, who were all talented.

• Next, we discovered that two young white male missionaries were going to Uganda.
• This was the first red flag.
• The dialogue was offensive and crass and the Ugandans were the butt of the jokes.
• In 2023, it’s plain lazy not to navigate race with some level of thoughtfulness.
• My spouse and I thought of a number of potential plots to get creative with an alternate story line.i.e Mormons in New York City? Why not? I Googled the issue to see if others felt the same.

There’s a NYTimes article about how the cast spoke up against the plot and met with the directors for 2 weeks. This show is a runaway train ready for the sunset. Hopefully audiences will ask for better so that these Black actors can go home at night with some dignity.

Written February 27, 2023 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. MOB Sligo, Ireland 100 contributions Feb 2020 • Couples Top class show.

Outstanding plot, props, acting etc. Worth the money spent on tickets. But, avoid bar. No prices / menu on display. Drink prices are excessive (even for NY).2 single G&T’s in plastic cups cost $44. Sneak in your own or do without for duration of show. Lesson learned Written February 3, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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• Feb 2023 • Couples We had a fantastic night! The musical had us laughing from start to finish.
• Great cast, great music, great show and a tongue-in-cheek look at how the writers of South Park view the Mormon religion and their aim to ‘save the world’ by converting everyone.

If you’re woke or easily offended, then this isn’t the musical for you. I can’t understand the people who book tickets and then endlessly complain about the show. Do a little research about the writers! Written February 28, 2023 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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2. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3. Jul 2022 • Couples Good but expected more after all the Hype.
4. Going in it’s very politically incorrect and sometimes over the top so be prepared for that, also they go for the cheap or repetitive jokes sometimes (they’re are only so many times you can hear “I have maggots in my scrotum” and it be funny.

The vocals were not bad but I expected more for it being broadway. I know it seems like I gave the play a lot of criticism but I really did have a fun date night and if you go in with an open mind you will likely enjoy it. Written July 13, 2022 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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• May 2023 • Couples I simply could not imagine a more perfect musical.
• It has the comedy, it has the satire, it has AMAZING music AND lyrics (I listen to 95% of the songs weekly), it has dark moments/humor which cleverly critique a wide range of social issues from colonialism and racism to the white savior trope and religious fanaticism.

Does the musical play on stereotypes? YES, and that is the whole point of the show! It uses stereotypes to play on the audience’s expectations to further drive the show’s ridiculousness and absurdity. This is and will always be a divisive show, but I’d say if you meet the following criteria, you’ll have a great time: – You’re intelligent, can read between the lines, and decipher the meaning of jokes beyond the surface level.

1. You are not overly sensitive (the show offends nearly every type of person there is).
2. You are not overly religious.
3. Have a blast! Written July 9, 2023 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
4. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards.

Read our transparency report to learn more. Jan 2022 I was so very excited to bring my family to this show. so, after dropping $2000 on tickets, we sat and were ready to be wowed. It just wasn’t that funny. The over acting makes sense given the theme, and the amount of times they used filthy language,it lost it’s luster.

Had I known, I would have chosen more wisely. If you’re looking for a broadway ‘experience’, this isn’t it. Go see something that’s less offensive and actually has some talent and grit. Written September 13, 2022 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards.

Read our transparency report to learn more. Jes S Market Harborough, UK 36 contributions Aug 2022 • Couples That has got to rate as the funniest show I’ve ever been to. Absolutely loved it. In most musicals there are a few banging numbers but in this, every song is witty, edgy and great.

The leg room in the theatre wasn’t great and I’m not that tall.177cm. Apart from that amazing 👏 🙌 Written August 29, 2022 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards.

Read our transparency report to learn more. Mar 2023 This musical has been hyped for years, and being raised a non mormon in a very mormon community, I’ve wanted to see it forever. I laughed until there were tears running down my face for the first 10-20 minutes as I felt like they were in my childhood neighborhood.

1. However, the play became very cringe worthy very fast.
2. I think they could just as easily have told the story without going SO overboard on really disgusting subject matters.
3. Clearly, most people don’t feel this way as it has been running for so long.
4. The actors were amazing and the “lead” actor that you are not aware of in the beginning was so.

damn. funny. But, I will never recommend the plan to anyone. I would hate to feel responsible for other people having to hear and see the things we heard and saw. NO ONE under 18 should ever been admitted. It is really to bad they had to push the limits to the distasteful degree that they did.

Written March 20, 2023 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. Showing results 1 – 10 of 3,584 Is this your Tripadvisor listing? Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

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How much do Book of Mormon Broadway actors get paid?

Now Casting: Earn $2,095 per Week in Broadway’s ‘The Book of Mormon’ + 3 More Gigs. Come share the most amazing book on Broadway!

How often should I read the Book of Mormon?

Am I expected to read each book of scripture daily? “Am I expected to read each book of scripture daily?” New Era, Aug.2006, 31 You don’t have to read each day from all the standard works, but you will want to read every day from the Book of Mormon. This book of scripture is unique because it was written for us.

• The prophets who wrote it saw our day and were inspired to write what we need to know, be, and do.
• President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) asked members to study the Book of Mormon daily: “The Book of Mormon is studied in our Sunday School and seminary classes every fourth year.
• This four-year pattern, however, must not be followed by Church members in their personal and family study.

We need to read daily from the pages of the ” (“Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Nov.1988, 4). During your daily scripture study, you could read from both the Book of Mormon and the book of scripture you are studying in seminary or Sunday School.

1. Furthermore, if you are studying by topic, you might end up reading from all the standard works.
2. For instance, if you look up faith in the Topical Guide or in True to the Faith, you can read about it throughout the scriptures.
3. Sometimes studying a few verses carefully can be better than reading several pages quickly.

The important thing is to study the word of God every day so you can feel the Spirit, learn the gospel, and draw closer to Heavenly Father. : Am I expected to read each book of scripture daily?

Is Book of Mormon musical blasphemous?

“The Book of Mormon” is bawdy, blasphemous and brilliant By Jordan Wright (Photo/Joan Marcus) Hellfire and damnation figure neatly in the wacky and wonderful “The Book of Mormon,” the latest production at the Kennedy Center. With book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, creators of the four-time Emmy Award-winning animated series “South Park,” you’ll luxuriate in all the irreverence you can handle, and then some.

1. Winner of nine Tony Awards, the blowout show is legendary for its satirical take on Mormonism and its 21 unforgettably zany songs.
2. The story focuses on the bicycle-riding young men with their skinny black ties and crisp white shirts, eager to convert and skilled at proselytizing.
3. Two by two, they comb the earth seeking out sin and sinners and spreading The Word.

Elder Price and Elder Cunningham are two of the innocents. Recently sprung from the church’s missionary training center, they are partnered up for their mission to Uganda, where they’ll rendezvous with other eager young evangelists. Two more disparate comrades are hard to conceive.

Price (David Larsen) is handsome and self centered, brimming with untested confidence. Ready to take on the world, he is miffed to be conjoined with Cunningham (Cody Jamison Strand), a portly nerd with no sense of self-worth, who clings to Price like a limpet mine to a submarine. Hoping to prove they’ll be worthy in the afterlife, the two unlikely apostles set off on a journey that is so convoluted, so riotous and so ungodly that your hair risks catching fire.

At a send off staged by their parents, complete with a dancing witch doctor that references “The Lion King,” the hapless lads are told, “You get out there and you baptize those Africans!” Instead, the boys realize converting the whole human race is not as easy as they had been led to believe.

• They discover the natives have their own brand of mythology, and it’s not any more far-fetched than Mormon founder Joseph Smith’s story of the uncorroborated golden plates he personally excavated in upstate New York.
• These descriptive Mormon-themed side skits are re-enacted hilariously by Smith (Christopher Shyer) and the Angel Moroni (Daxton Bloomquist) in dream sequences designed to compare the origins of the Latter Day Saints to the natives’ beliefs.

But which of these tales are more fanciful? Warlords and AIDS are on the minds of the Ugandans who have a middle-finger-raised musical response to God in the number “Hasa Diga Eebowai.” And a one-eyed general and bloodthirsty warlord, played by David Aron Damane, threatens to circumcise all the girls in the village by the end of the week.

• There’s a sweet love story between the beautiful Nabulungi (Candace Quarrels) and Cunningham, a most unlikely suitor, who woos her with dreams of paradise.
• In the beautifully sung number “Sal Tlay Ka Siti” — heavily accented pronunciation of Salt Lake City — she places her hopes in his hands.
• This isn’t “The Sound of Music,” though it takes a village.

And Nabulungi’s convincing of her tribe isn’t based on truth — Cunningham has convoluted the church’s teachings to suit his ignorance of its contents. “I actually never read it,” he confesses. If you’re wondering how the Mormon church reacted to the blasphemous comedy, the quote is: “You’ve seen the play.

Now read the book.” But Cunningham is determined to convert the girl and croons “Man Up,” describing Jesus’ bravery as “growing a pair.” Credit must go to directors Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, Scott Pask for the scenic design, Ann Roth for costumes, Brian MacDevitt for lighting and the phenomenal 12-piece orchestra directed by Adam Laird and David Truskinoff.

Many of the talented performers from the first Broadway production are in this touring company, making it just as bawdy and blasphemous as the original. : “The Book of Mormon” is bawdy, blasphemous and brilliant

What does the Book of Mormon musical make fun of?

Frequently Asked Questions: The Book of Mormon Musical – Q: What is the musical? A: The Book of Mormon musical is a satirical show that began on Broadway in New York City in 2011. The musical’s central characters are two missionaries sent on a mission to Uganda.

There they work in a village where a warlord is threatening the village’s inhabitants. The missionaries try to share the Book of Mormon, but the local inhabitants are more concerned about AIDS, war, and staying alive. The musical trivializes and caricatures some of the Church’s beliefs, including the Book of Mormon and founding prophet Joseph Smith.

The musical’s creators portray the missionaries as naive but innocently optimistic. The musical is full of profanity and extremely vulgar content, including the frequent, blasphemous use of profanity directed at God and Jesus Christ.

1. Q: Does the Church have any affiliation with the musical?
2. Q: What has the Church said publically about the musical?
3. Q: Why is the Church advertising in cities where the musical is playing?

A: No. The Church has no involvement with the musical. A: When the musical began in New York City, the Church issued the following statement: “The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people’s lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ.” A: The Book of Mormon musical has generated a great deal of discussion about the Book of Mormon, missionaries, and the beliefs of the Church.

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Style Guide Note: When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online, : Book of Mormon Musical

Why is the Book of Mormon musical rated R?

‘Book of Mormon’: How offended will you be? Will “The Book of Mormon” offend you? The answer to that question is “probably,” so the real question may be, “How much?” A quick online search reveals that “the four most highly offensive topics are sex, religion, politics, bad language and dark humor.” (Is no one highly offended by not being able to count?) “The Book of Mormon” covers all four — or five — of those and more: SEX There’s no onstage sex or nudity in “Mormon,” but keep in mind that the people behind “Mormon” also created “Orgazmo,” a movie about a Mormon porn star.

• Sex is frankly addressed in the musical when its Mormon do-gooders attempt to do good in Africa.
• The village they visit has what could be termed a free-wheeling attitude toward sexuality, largely because they are so ill-informed about it.
• As “Mormon” parodies the view that abstinence should be taught instead of sex education, it does not hesitate to make outrageous jokes about extremely sensitive topics — genital mutilation, for instance.

RELIGION Although “Book of Mormon” has a surprisingly sweet conclusion that comes down on the side of enlightened faith, the musical is skeptical about organized religion and well beyond skeptical about the Mormon church. The song “I Believe” in particular sends up past and present beliefs of the Latter-Day Saints movement in such lines as, “I believe in 1978, God changed his mind about black people” and “I believe that God lives on a planet named Kolob.”

My guess is that Mormons, in particular, will need very good senses of humor about both themselves and their faith to be able to appreciate “Book of Mormon.” In fact, no matter what your faith is, the supposed translation of the title of the song “Hasa Diga Eebowai,” a very specific, anatomical denunciation of God, is designed to offend almost everyone. POLITICS

This is probably where “Book of Mormon” treads lightest — not because creators Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez are skittish about addressing politics but because politics barely enter into the musical’s plot. I would not, however, be surprised to learn that a Mitt Romney reference has slipped into the show in the year since I saw it.

BAD LANGUAGE Long story short: It’s not bad. It’s appalling. I’m a person who sees a lot of movies in which characters constantly invent new conjugations and combinations of the basic epithets, but I sat open-mouthed at a few scenes in “Mormon,” partly because a cheery Broadway musical is an unexpected place to hear those words and partly because “Mormon” uses all of them, often.

That’s especially true of “Hasa Diga Eebowai,” a ribald parody of “Hakuna Matata.” Oh, and there’s one oft-mentioned character whose name can’t even be printed in this newspaper. DARK HUMOR As previously mentioned, genital mutilation is discussed in one of the show tunes in “Book of Mormon.” Also not treated with kid gloves: babies, AIDS, doctors and O.J.

Is Book of Mormon kid friendly?

Audience. Teens and Up. Parental advisory: explicit language. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre.

What do I wear to a Broadway show?

What can I wear to a Broadway show? – The simple answer is anything. Most theatres no longer have dress codes, so it doesn’t matter what you wear. As long as you have a ticket for your performance, you’ll be allowed into the venue. Both formal and informal clothing is accepted.

• From casual t-shirts, jeans and flip-flops to a cocktail dress or tuxedo, the spectrum of audience style is so broad that there is no specific dress code.
• However, for special performances, including first previews, opening nights and gala nights, it may be worth polishing your dress shoes and ironing a shirt for an effortless “smart-casual” outfit.

If going to the theatre is a special occasion rather than a regular occurrence, you may want to dress up in a formal outfit and shoes. Overall, it’s best to be in an outfit you feel comfortable in, though — you don’t want to spend a few hours sitting down with blistered feet.

Is it good to read the Book of Mormon?

Why We Need the Book of Mormon “Why We Need the Book of Mormon,” New Era, Apr.2013, 34–35 Holy Bible and Book of Mormon Some people may ask you why we need the Book of Mormon when we already have the Bible. In fact, Jesus Christ testified that this would happen (see ).

There are many reasons why the Book of Mormon is important in our day (for example, see ). Here are just a few reasons why it’s essential. The scriptures show us a pattern of using multiple witnesses to establish truth in Christ’s Church. The Book of Mormon adds a second witness to the Bible as a testimony of Christ.

Elder Mark E. Petersen (1900–84) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said, “The chief reason we have the Book of Mormon is that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall all things be established. (See,) We have the Bible; we also have the Book of Mormon.

They constitute two voices—two volumes of scripture—from two widely separated ancient peoples, both bearing testimony to the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.” President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) has added, “We must not forget that the Lord Himself provided the Book of Mormon as His chief witness.” We know that “plain and precious things have been taken away from” the Bible throughout time ().

The Book of Mormon clarifies Christ’s doctrine and brings the fulness of the gospel to the earth once again (see ). For example, the Book of Mormon helps us know that baptism must be performed by immersion (see ) and that little children do not need to be baptized (see ).

Joseph Smith testified that the Book of Mormon is “the keystone of our religion.” Since we know this, it does not seem a coincidence that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830, just 11 days after the Book of Mormon was first available for public sale on March 26, 1830.

The Church was not organized until its keystone scripture was available for its members. Regarding the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith taught that “a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” It has the power to change lives—including yours and those you share the Book of Mormon with.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, has testified, “The effect of the Book of Mormon on your character, power, and courage to be a witness for God is certain. The doctrine and the valiant examples in that book will lift, guide, and embolden you. Prayerful study of the Book of Mormon will build faith in God the Father, in His Beloved Son, and in His gospel.

It will build your faith in God’s prophets, ancient and modern. It can draw you closer to God than any other book. It can change a life for the better.” Join the Conversation Throughout April you’ll be studying about the Apostasy and the Restoration in your priesthood quorums and Young Women and Sunday School classes.

• The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was an important part of the Restoration.
• After reading this article, think about how your life is different because you have the Book of Mormon.
• You could write down your feelings in your journal.
• Consider sharing them with others by testifying at home, at church, on social media, or online at,

Sunday Lessons This Month’s Topic: The Apostasy and the Restoration Notes

Mark E. Petersen, “Evidence of Things Not Seen,” Ensign, May 1978, 63. The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson (1988), 204. Joseph Smith, in the introduction to the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith, in the introduction to the Book of Mormon. Henry B. Eyring, “A Witness,” Ensign, Nov.2011, 69–70.

Two Witnesses “The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite.

• For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church.
• What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one.

Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses. “Again and again the Book of Mormon acts as a confirming, clarifying, unifying witness of the doctrines taught in the Bible.” : Why We Need the Book of Mormon

How long is MJ the musical?

How long is MJ The Musical ? – MJ The Musical runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. This is a typical Broadway musical length, though musicals can run anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Intermission is also a standard length at 15 minutes long.

Is the Book of Mormon a good show?

Top ways to experience The Book of Mormon and nearby attractions – The area Neighborhood : Theater District

50th St • 2 min walk 50th St • 2 min walk

See what other travelers are saying

Fantastic show – So funny Came over from Scotland to visit areas of the US. During my time in New York, I wanted to see a show on Broadway but couldn’t decide. I opted for the Book of Mormon and I am so glad I did. it was a brilliant show, full of good songs, great acting and superbly funny. I would recommend this show to anyone who loves a laugh and doesn’t take religion or Mormon religion too seriously. Spicy CEO New York City, New York 116 contributions Hysterically Educational- may prompt you to be a better human. Please people, stop burying your heads in the sand! For years humor has been used to bring to light issues that are hard to face but are our REALITY. Racism exists. Aids exists, rape exists, FGM exists! It’s unfortunate that some people feel the need to turn a blind eye and ignore the issues by walking out claiming to be offended rather than face the discomfort they are feeling? Shame on you for not accepting reality, laughing and maybe DOING something about the issues rather than ignore it, claiming a moral high ground. This show is irreverently funny- is inappropriate towards EVERYONE (no group is left unscathed) and brings light to a great number of these issues that we ALL need to be aware of. Laugh at the absurdity of it (because that’s the intent- to shock and move you) and walk out knowing that you can play a bigger part in making some of these issues better. if you care. Great show, with many comical moments making serious points cleverly! Well produced and acted, great music, highly enjoyable. That’s my review, now to address those who spend their lives wanting to be offended. We have read many reviews of The Book of Mormon, mainly, we feel written by people who went along with the intention of being offended by it, or by people who failed to do their research before buying tickets. This musical is certainly not a recruiting sergeant for the Mormons, who, it has to be said remain a mainly white, male organisation, who only allowed persons of colour to join 40 years ago, and who do not allow women to participate fully. We sincerely hope that the Mormons will continue to make progress in these areas, and refrain from knocking on our door (not too much of an issue in Wales, UK) We believe in freedom of religion (though not religious ourselves), speech etc, did our research on Wikipedia and went along to enjoy this musical, and we did indeed enjoy it, whilst respecting the right of others to practice their religion. Rape of babies, FGM and HIV/AIDS are a fact of life in many parts of the world, and the musical theatre is a good way of raising awareness of these serious issues so that suitable action can be taken by those able to do so. There is no point in pretending that these problems do not exist. If you know that you are going to be offended, don’t go! Written February 29, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

1. Nov 2019 Came over from Scotland to visit areas of the US.
2. During my time in New York, I wanted to see a show on Broadway but couldn’t decide.
3. I opted for the Book of Mormon and I am so glad I did.
4. It was a brilliant show, full of good songs, great acting and superbly funny.
5. I would recommend this show to anyone who loves a laugh and doesn’t take religion or Mormon religion too seriously.

Written January 2, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Feb 2022 Please people, stop burying your heads in the sand! For years humor has been used to bring to light issues that are hard to face but are our REALITY. Racism exists. Aids exists, rape exists, FGM exists! It’s unfortunate that some people feel the need to turn a blind eye and ignore the issues by walking out claiming to be offended rather than face the discomfort they are feeling? Shame on you for not accepting reality, laughing and maybe DOING something about the issues rather than ignore it, claiming a moral high ground.

This show is irreverently funny- is inappropriate towards EVERYONE (no group is left unscathed) and brings light to a great number of these issues that we ALL need to be aware of. Laugh at the absurdity of it (because that’s the intent- to shock and move you) and walk out knowing that you can play a bigger part in making some of these issues better.

If you care. Written February 3, 2022 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. Feb 2020 Well produced and acted, great music, highly enjoyable.

That’s my review, now to address those who spend their lives wanting to be offended. We have read many reviews of The Book of Mormon, mainly, we feel written by people who went along with the intention of being offended by it, or by people who failed to do their research before buying tickets.

• This musical is certainly not a recruiting sergeant for the Mormons, who, it has to be said remain a mainly white, male organisation, who only allowed persons of colour to join 40 years ago, and who do not allow women to participate fully.
• We sincerely hope that the Mormons will continue to make progress in these areas, and refrain from knocking on our door (not too much of an issue in Wales, UK) We believe in freedom of religion (though not religious ourselves), speech etc, did our research on Wikipedia and went along to enjoy this musical, and we did indeed enjoy it, whilst respecting the right of others to practice their religion.

Rape of babies, FGM and HIV/AIDS are a fact of life in many parts of the world, and the musical theatre is a good way of raising awareness of these serious issues so that suitable action can be taken by those able to do so. There is no point in pretending that these problems do not exist.

If you know that you are going to be offended, don’t go! Written February 29, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jan 2020 I don’t know or care about South Park. My wife wanted to see this show and though I looked at many other shows, I got her tickets for Christmas. I knew about the controversial topics and didn’t think I would enjoy the show or find it funny. The seats are incredibly tight but the show is the shortest I’ve seen.

• I’m 5’10” and my knees were basically touching the back of the seat in front of me and if you are lucky, you can use one armrest.
• I’ve yet to be in a NYC theater that isn’t similar to this feeling.
• I was told or read it would be a non-stop laugh riot but I barely laughed at anything, though others were laughing.

I felt like I kept waiting to think it was funny and I never did. It wasn’t boring, for me it was not a must see at all, but it was just another Broadway show. I would say my wife enjoyed it more than me, which is fine as it was a gift for her. I could recommend the view from the front mezzanine, we were in the back right and it felt super close with only 3 rows of people who could possibly affect our view.

• Written January 4, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
• Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards.
• Read our transparency report to learn more.
• Feb 2020 • Couples We had heard this play was irreverent and funny.

It was blasphemous and horrid. To my everlasting shame, we left at intermission. Should have walked out way earlier. I love Broadway. musicals. plays. this was THE WORST event I have ever attended and even watching it it til intermission was a very bad idea.

I felt like I needed a shower after. Maybe with disinfectant. A lot of the audience was laughing out loud. I cringed. It is probably the most obscene event I have spent money on. Do due diligence and avoid this piece of garbage at all costs. You will be better for it. Written April 14, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. Feb 2023 I’ve been to a lot of Broadway shows and this was by far the cringiest. We heard great things about the show and I was a fan of Avenue Q, so I thought this was a safe bet.

1. After all, there was just too much potential in the title not to be a good show.
2. But I was wrong.
3. The beginning was a lighthearted and interesting way to get to know the characters, who were all talented.
4. Next, we discovered that two young white male missionaries were going to Uganda.
5. This was the first red flag.

The dialogue was offensive and crass and the Ugandans were the butt of the jokes. In 2023, it’s plain lazy not to navigate race with some level of thoughtfulness. My spouse and I thought of a number of potential plots to get creative with an alternate story line.i.e Mormons in New York City? Why not? I Googled the issue to see if others felt the same.

There’s a NYTimes article about how the cast spoke up against the plot and met with the directors for 2 weeks. This show is a runaway train ready for the sunset. Hopefully audiences will ask for better so that these Black actors can go home at night with some dignity. Written February 27, 2023 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. MOB Sligo, Ireland 100 contributions Feb 2020 • Couples Top class show. Outstanding plot, props, acting etc. Worth the money spent on tickets.

But, avoid bar. No prices / menu on display. Drink prices are excessive (even for NY).2 single G&T’s in plastic cups cost $44. Sneak in your own or do without for duration of show. Lesson learned Written February 3, 2020 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. Feb 2023 • Couples We had a fantastic night! The musical had us laughing from start to finish. Great cast, great music, great show and a tongue-in-cheek look at how the writers of South Park view the Mormon religion and their aim to ‘save the world’ by converting everyone.

1. If you’re woke or easily offended, then this isn’t the musical for you.
2. I can’t understand the people who book tickets and then endlessly complain about the show.
3. Do a little research about the writers! Written February 28, 2023 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. Jul 2022 • Couples Good but expected more after all the Hype. Going in it’s very politically incorrect and sometimes over the top so be prepared for that, also they go for the cheap or repetitive jokes sometimes (they’re are only so many times you can hear “I have maggots in my scrotum” and it be funny.

1. The vocals were not bad but I expected more for it being broadway.
2. I know it seems like I gave the play a lot of criticism but I really did have a fun date night and if you go in with an open mind you will likely enjoy it.
3. Written July 13, 2022 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more. May 2023 • Couples I simply could not imagine a more perfect musical. It has the comedy, it has the satire, it has AMAZING music AND lyrics (I listen to 95% of the songs weekly), it has dark moments/humor which cleverly critique a wide range of social issues from colonialism and racism to the white savior trope and religious fanaticism.

Does the musical play on stereotypes? YES, and that is the whole point of the show! It uses stereotypes to play on the audience’s expectations to further drive the show’s ridiculousness and absurdity. This is and will always be a divisive show, but I’d say if you meet the following criteria, you’ll have a great time: – You’re intelligent, can read between the lines, and decipher the meaning of jokes beyond the surface level.

– You are not overly sensitive (the show offends nearly every type of person there is). – You are not overly religious. Have a blast! Written July 9, 2023 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards.

How many hours is the Audio Book of Mormon?

About this item

Listening Length	25 hours and 19 minutes
Publisher	Audible Studios
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English

Is the Book of Mormon show accurate?

Earlier this year, Scott Rudin, a producer for “The Book of Mormon Musical,” told NPR about a conversation he had with a man who attended a preview showing of the production, which on Sunday night won nine Tony awards, including best musical. “I left the Mormon Church after my mission (in Africa),” said the man, who had brought his children to the show.

• I) married a Jewish woman and now I live in Montclair, New Jersey.
• My kids know nothing about my upbringing.
• They have learned more from this (musical) than they have from all their lives with me.” Rudin’s anecdote echoes a common refrain that the show’s producers have repeated since before it opened, that “The Book of Mormon,” while obviously satirical, offers an accurate depiction of Latter-day Saint doctrines and culture.

Indeed, the musical’s high-profile creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, have claimed in multiple media interviews to have “done their homework” when it comes to LDS teachings. While theater experts and media pundits have praised the musical, others have pointed out the play is not only profane and inaccurate, but actually an attack on faith more broadly.

GetReligion.org’s Mollie Ziegler wrote that the play “is an entirely New York phenomenon. It mocks general religious belief using Mormon characters. It’s made by media elites (media elites whom I generally like, admittedly) and enjoyed by a class of people who go to Broadway musicals.” Likewise, New York Times columnist David Brooks observed that “The central theme of ‘The Book of Mormon’ is that many religious stories are silly.” He said the play’s message boils down to this: “Religion itself can do enormous good as long as people take religious teaching metaphorically and not literally.” “The only problem with ‘The Book of Mormon’ (musical),” Brooks continued, “is that its theme is not quite true.

Vague, uplifting, nondoctrinal religiosity doesn’t actually last. The religions that grow, succor and motivate people to perform heroic acts of service are usually theologically rigorous, arduous in practice and definite in their convictions about what is True and False.” A Deseret News analysis of the show’s content, based on its official script and lyrics, reveals several errors and misrepresentations that go beyond the bounds of generalization for comedy’s sake — and Mormonism isn’t the only subject with which the Tony award-winning musical takes liberties.

• And those liberties can create important misperceptions.
• Of course, parody isn’t reality, and it’s the very distortion that makes it appealing and often funny,” Michael Otterson, the public affairs representative for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wrote in a recent piece in the Washington Post.

“The danger is not when people laugh but when they take it seriously.” Misstating LDS beliefs The musical’s book and lyrics contain multiple inaccurate representations of LDS beliefs and practices. Some of the errors are arguably inconsequential, and likely the result of efforts to simplify for plot’s sake.

1. They include the specifics of how missionaries receive their proselytizing assignments, LDS mission rules and nuances regarding Lamanites and Nephites in the actual Book of Mormon.
2. Yet, “The Book of Mormon” musical also contains less benign inaccuracies, like misrepresenting Joseph Smith’s history, distorting Mormon epistemology and misconstruing the church’s teachings about the afterlife.

For example, the song “All-American Prophet” puts to music a version of the Joseph Smith story that is riddled with errors both small and large. In one notable example, the angel Moroni sings, “Don’t let anybody see these plates except for you (Joseph),” and then toward the end of the song, during the scene depicting Smith’s death, the prophet sings “Oh God, why are you letting me die without having me show people the plates? They’ll have no proof I was telling the truth or not they’ll have to believe it just cuz.

1. Oh. I guess that’s kind of what you were going for.” Contrary to the musical’s portrayal, historical records indicate that at least 11 people signed testimonies indicating that Smith had shown them the Golden Plates.
2. The accounts of these witnesses are printed in each copy of The Book of Mormon — but the song makes no mention of them.

In another song titled “I Believe,” the character Elder Price repeatedly sings the refrain “I am a Mormon and a Mormon just believes.” The refrain is interspersed with lines like “(God’s) plan involves me getting my own planet.” This statement, like many in the song, represents an out-of-context fragment of doctrine that, on its own, is inaccurate.

• In the song, “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream,” the character of Elder Price finds himself dreaming that he is in the midst of Hades’ flames with the likes of Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler and others.
• While the scene’s absurdity lends itself easily to laughs by poking fun at strict LDS mission rules, it nonetheless dramatically distorts the LDS conception of a multi-tiered heaven (three kingdoms of glory) and outer darkness.

The “hell” depicted in the musical is much closer to the fire-and-brimstone preaching of early Puritanical ministers. Yet, Mormons are not the only ones misrepresented. The musical’s characterization of Ugandans is perhaps worse. Uganda “Uganda is depicted as an entirely rural place, where many people still practice female genital mutilation (which is actually illegal in Uganda) and no one has a cell phone or access to the outside world.

(In reality, between one-third and one-half of Ugandans have cell phones.),” wrote beliefnet.com blogger Jana Reiss, who is also a Mormon. Additionally, the Ugandan characters in the musical are, with a few exceptions, angry, aggressive, sexually charged, physically ill, naive and vulgar. Some viewers could construe this extreme stereotyping as a form of racism — the producers and writers call it satire.

Nevertheless, it is striking that Ugandan characters utter all the swear words in the musical except one. Profanity According to the musical’s complete book and lyrics, those Ugandan characters utter plenty of swear words. The production contains at least 49 instances of the “f-word,” and approximately 26 additional expletives.